CVE-2026-26157
Busybox: busybox: arbitrary file overwrite and potential code execution via incomplete path sanitization
A flaw was found in BusyBox. Incomplete path sanitization in its archive extraction utilities allows an attacker to craft malicious archives that when extracted, and under specific conditions, may write to files outside the intended directory. This can lead to arbitrary file overwrite, potentially enabling code execution through the modification of sensitive system files.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Local
- Complexity
- High
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- Required
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
7.0
Busybox: busybox: arbitrary file overwrite and potential code execution via incomplete path sanitization
A flaw was found in BusyBox. Incomplete path sanitization in its archive extraction utilities allows an attacker to craft malicious archives that when extracted, and under specific conditions, may write to files outside the intended directory. This can lead to arbitrary file overwrite, potentially enabling code execution through the modification of sensitive system files.
- Record
CVE-2026-26157- CVSS 3.1
- 7.0 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-73, CWE-73
- Updated
- 2026-11-04
EUVDEUVD-2026-7022
7.0
A flaw was found in BusyBox. Incomplete path sanitization in its archive extraction utilities allows an attacker to craft malicious archives that when extracted, and under specific conditions, may write to files outside the intended directory. This can lead to arbitrary file overwrite, potentially enabling code execution through the modification of sensitive system files.
- Record
EUVD-2026-7022- CVSS 3.1
- 7.0 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-04
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-xm63-5pjx-vrhp
7.0
A flaw was found in BusyBox. Incomplete path sanitization in its archive extraction utilities...
A flaw was found in BusyBox. Incomplete path sanitization in its archive extraction utilities allows an attacker to craft malicious archives that when extracted, and under specific conditions, may write to files outside the intended directory. This can lead to arbitrary file overwrite, potentially enabling code execution through the modification of sensitive system files.
- Record
GHSA-xm63-5pjx-vrhp- CVSS 3.1
- 7.0 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-73
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
7.0
A flaw was found in BusyBox. Incomplete path sanitization in its archive extraction utilities allows an attacker to craft malicious archives that when extracted, and under specific conditions, may write to files outside the intended directory. This can lead to arbitrary file overwrite, potentially enabling code execution through the modification of sensitive system files.
- Record
CVE-2026-26157- CVSS 3.1
- 7.0 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-73
- Updated
- 2026-11-05
OSVBELL-CVE-2026-26157
7.0
- Record
BELL-CVE-2026-26157- CVSS 3.1
- 7.0 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2026-26157
7.0
A flaw was found in BusyBox. Incomplete path sanitization in its archive extraction utilities allows an attacker to craft malicious archives that when extracted, and under specific conditions, may write to files outside the intended directory. This can lead to arbitrary file overwrite, potentially enabling code execution through the modification of sensitive system files.
- Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2026-26157- CVSS 3.1
- 7.0 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-05
Show 12 moreShow less
OSVOESA-2026-1544
7.0
busybox security update
The Swiss Army Knife of Embedded Linux
Security Fix(es):
A flaw was found in BusyBox. Incomplete path sanitization in its archive extraction utilities allows an attacker to craft malicious archives that when extracted, and under specific conditions, may write to files outside the intended directory. This can lead to arbitrary file overwrite, potentially enabling code execution through the modification of sensitive system files.(CVE-2026-26157)
A flaw was found in BusyBox. This vulnerability allows an attacker to modify files outside of the intended extraction directory by crafting a malicious tar archive containing unvalidated hardlink or symlink entries. If the tar archive is extracted with elevated privileges, this flaw can lead to privilege escalation, enabling an attacker to gain unauthorized access to critical system files.(CVE-2026-26158)
- Record
OESA-2026-1544- CVSS 3.1
- 7.0 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVRHSA-2026:13831
7.0
Red Hat Security Advisory: Red Hat Hardened Images RPMs Security Update
- Record
RHSA-2026:13831- CVSS 3.1
- 7.0 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2026-26157
7.0
A flaw was found in BusyBox. Incomplete path sanitization in its archive extraction utilities allows an attacker to craft malicious archives that when extracted, and under specific conditions, may write to files outside the intended directory. This can lead to arbitrary file overwrite, potentially enabling code execution through the modification of sensitive system files.
- Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2026-26157- CVSS 3.1
- 7.0 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVAZL-77603 No score
CVE-2026-26157 affecting package busybox for versions less than 1.35.0-18
A flaw was found in BusyBox. Incomplete path sanitization in its archive extraction utilities allows an attacker to craft malicious archives that when extracted, and under specific conditions, may write to files outside the intended directory. This can lead to arbitrary file overwrite, potentially enabling code execution through the modification of sensitive system files.
- Record
AZL-77603- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVAZL-77610 No score
CVE-2026-26157 affecting package busybox for versions less than 1.36.1-22
A flaw was found in BusyBox. Incomplete path sanitization in its archive extraction utilities allows an attacker to craft malicious archives that when extracted, and under specific conditions, may write to files outside the intended directory. This can lead to arbitrary file overwrite, potentially enabling code execution through the modification of sensitive system files.
- Record
AZL-77610- Updated
- 2026-11-05
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2026:10258-1 No score
busybox-1.37.0-10.1 on GA media
These are all security issues fixed in the busybox-1.37.0-10.1 package on the GA media of openSUSE Tumbleweed.
- Record
openSUSE-SU-2026:10258-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2026:20387-1 No score
Security update for busybox
This update for busybox fixes the following issues:
Changes in busybox:
- CVE-2026-26157: Fixed arbitrary file overwrite and potential code execution via incomplete path sanitization. (bsc#1258163)
- CVE-2026-26158: Fixed arbitrary file modification and privilege escalation via unvalidated tar archive entries. (bsc#1258167)
- Record
openSUSE-SU-2026:20387-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVSUSE-SU-2026:0758-1 No score
Security update for busybox
This update for busybox fixes the following issues:
- CVE-2026-26157: Arbitrary file overwrite and potential code execution via incomplete path sanitization (bsc#1258163).
- CVE-2026-26158: Arbitrary file modification and privilege escalation via unvalidated tar archive entries (bsc#1258167).
- Record
SUSE-SU-2026:0758-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVSUSE-SU-2026:0759-1 No score
Security update for busybox
This update for busybox fixes the following issues:
- CVE-2026-26157: Arbitrary file overwrite and potential code execution via incomplete path sanitization (bsc#1258163).
- CVE-2026-26158: Arbitrary file modification and privilege escalation via unvalidated tar archive entries (bsc#1258167).
- Record
SUSE-SU-2026:0759-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVSUSE-SU-2026:0872-1 No score
Security update for busybox
This update for busybox fixes the following issues:
- CVE-2023-42363: use-after-free vulnerability in xasprintf function in xfuncs_printf.c (bsc#1217580).
- CVE-2023-42364: use-after-free in the awk.c evaluate function (bsc#1217584).
- CVE-2023-42365: use-after-free in the awk.c copyvar function (bsc#1217585).
- CVE-2025-46394: files in a TAR archive can have their filenames hidden from a listing if terminal escape sequences are used when naming other files included in the archive (bsc#1241661).
- CVE-2025-60876: request line incorrectly neutralized mat lead to header injection (bsc#1253245).
- CVE-2026-26157: Arbitrary file overwrite and potential code execution via incomplete path sanitization (bsc#1258163).
- CVE-2026-26158: Arbitrary file modification and privilege escalation via unvalidated tar archive entries (bsc#1258167).
- CVE-2021-42380: Additional fix for use-after-realloc in awk (bsc#1192869).
- Record
SUSE-SU-2026:0872-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVSUSE-SU-2026:0892-1 No score
Security update for busybox
This update for busybox fixes the following issues:
- CVE-2023-42363: use-after-free vulnerability in xasprintf function in xfuncs_printf.c (bsc#1217580).
- CVE-2023-42364: use-after-free in the awk.c evaluate function (bsc#1217584).
- CVE-2023-42365: use-after-free in the awk.c copyvar function (bsc#1217585).
- CVE-2025-46394: files in a TAR archive can have their filenames hidden from a listing if terminal escape sequences are used when naming other files included in the archive (bsc#1241661).
- CVE-2025-60876: request line incorrectly neutralized mat lead to header injection (bsc#1253245).
- CVE-2026-26157: Arbitrary file overwrite and potential code execution via incomplete path sanitization (bsc#1258163).
- CVE-2026-26158: Arbitrary file modification and privilege escalation via unvalidated tar archive entries (bsc#1258167).
- CVE-2021-42380: Additional fix for use-after-realloc in awk (bsc#1192869).
- Record
SUSE-SU-2026:0892-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVSUSE-SU-2026:20905-1 No score
Security update for busybox
This update for busybox fixes the following issues:
Changes in busybox:
- CVE-2026-26157: Fixed arbitrary file overwrite and potential code execution via incomplete path sanitization. (bsc#1258163)
- CVE-2026-26158: Fixed arbitrary file modification and privilege escalation via unvalidated tar archive entries. (bsc#1258167)
- Record
SUSE-SU-2026:20905-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
busyboxAzure Linux:2 |
before 1.35.0-18 | 1.35.0-18 |
busyboxAzure Linux:3 |
before 1.36.1-22 | 1.36.1-22 |
busyboxAlpaquita:23 |
1.35.0-r29 up to 1.35.0-r42 | 1.35.0-r42 |
busyboxAlpaquita:25 |
1.37.0-r20 up to 1.37.0-r29 | 1.37.0-r29 |
busyboxAlpaquita:stream |
1.36.1-r1 up to 1.38.0-r0 | 1.38.0-r0 |
busyboxBellSoft Hardened Containers:23 |
1.35.0-r29 up to 1.35.0-r42 | 1.35.0-r42 |
busyboxBellSoft Hardened Containers:25 |
1.37.0-r20 up to 1.37.0-r29 | 1.37.0-r29 |
busyboxBellSoft Hardened Containers:stream |
1.36.1-r1 up to 1.38.0-r0 | 1.38.0-r0 |
busyboxDebian:12 |
All versions, plus listed versions 1:1.35.0-41:1.35.0-4+deb12u11:1.36.0-1~exp11:1.36.1-11:1.36.1-2 Show 23 moreShow less1:1.36.1-31:1.36.1-3.11:1.36.1-41:1.36.1-51:1.36.1-61:1.36.1-6~exp.11:1.36.1-71:1.36.1-81:1.36.1-91:1.37.0-11:1.37.0-101:1.37.0-10.11:1.37.0-21:1.37.0-31:1.37.0-41:1.37.0-51:1.37.0-61:1.37.0-71:1.37.0-81:1.37.0-91:1.38.0-11:1.38.0-21:1.38.0-3 |
None known |
busyboxDebian:13 |
All versions, plus listed versions 1:1.37.0-101:1.37.0-10.11:1.37.0-61:1.37.0-71:1.37.0-8 Show 4 moreShow less1:1.37.0-91:1.38.0-11:1.38.0-21:1.38.0-3 |
None known |
Show 38 moreShow less
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
busyboxDebian:14 |
before 1:1.37.0-10.1, plus listed versions 1:1.37.0-101:1.37.0-61:1.37.0-71:1.37.0-81:1.37.0-9 |
1:1.37.0-10.1 |
busyboxopenEuler:20.03-LTS-SP4 From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 1.31.1-28.oe2003sp4 | 1.31.1-28.oe2003sp4 |
busyboxopenEuler:22.03-LTS-SP4 From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 1.34.1-28.oe2203sp4 | 1.34.1-28.oe2203sp4 |
busyboxopenEuler:24.03-LTS From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 1.36.1-14.oe2403sp3 | 1.36.1-14.oe2403sp3 |
busyboxopenEuler:24.03-LTS-SP1 From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 1.36.1-14.oe2403sp1 | 1.36.1-14.oe2403sp1 |
busyboxopenEuler:24.03-LTS-SP2 From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 1.36.1-14.oe2403sp2 | 1.36.1-14.oe2403sp2 |
busyboxopenEuler:24.03-LTS-SP3 From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 1.36.1-14.oe2403sp3 | 1.36.1-14.oe2403sp3 |
busyboxRed Hat:hummingbird:1 From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 0:1.37.0-7.2.hum1 | 0:1.37.0-7.2.hum1 |
busybox-petitbootRed Hat:hummingbird:1 From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 0:1.37.0-7.2.hum1 | 0:1.37.0-7.2.hum1 |
busybox-sharedRed Hat:hummingbird:1 From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 0:1.37.0-7.2.hum1 | 0:1.37.0-7.2.hum1 |
busyboxSUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5-ESPOS From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 1.37.0-150500.10.17.1 | 1.37.0-150500.10.17.1 |
busyboxSUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5-LTSS From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 1.37.0-150500.10.17.1 | 1.37.0-150500.10.17.1 |
busyboxSUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP5-LTSS From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 1.37.0-150500.10.17.1 | 1.37.0-150500.10.17.1 |
busyboxSUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP6-LTSS From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 1.37.0-150500.10.17.1 | 1.37.0-150500.10.17.1 |
busyboxSUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP5 From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 1.37.0-150500.10.17.1 | 1.37.0-150500.10.17.1 |
busyboxSUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP6 From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 1.37.0-150500.10.17.1 | 1.37.0-150500.10.17.1 |
busyboxopenSUSE:Leap 15.6 From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 1.37.0-150500.10.17.1 | 1.37.0-150500.10.17.1 |
busybox-linksopenSUSE:Leap 15.6 From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 1.37.0-150500.7.11.1 | 1.37.0-150500.7.11.1 |
busyboxSUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP7 From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 1.37.0-150700.18.15.1 | 1.37.0-150700.18.15.1 |
busyboxSUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-ESPOS From an advisory covering 8 CVEs |
before 1.35.0-150400.3.14.1 | 1.35.0-150400.3.14.1 |
busyboxSUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-LTSS From an advisory covering 8 CVEs |
before 1.35.0-150400.3.14.1 | 1.35.0-150400.3.14.1 |
busyboxSUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP4-LTSS From an advisory covering 8 CVEs |
before 1.35.0-150400.3.14.1 | 1.35.0-150400.3.14.1 |
busyboxSUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP4 From an advisory covering 8 CVEs |
before 1.35.0-150400.3.14.1 | 1.35.0-150400.3.14.1 |
busyboxSUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5-LTSS From an advisory covering 8 CVEs |
before 1.35.0-10.3.1 | 1.35.0-10.3.1 |
busyboxSUSE:Linux Enterprise Server LTSS Extended Security 12 SP5 From an advisory covering 8 CVEs |
before 1.35.0-10.3.1 | 1.35.0-10.3.1 |
busyboxSUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 16.0 From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 1.37.0-160000.5.1 | 1.37.0-160000.5.1 |
busyboxSUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP applications 16.0 From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 1.37.0-160000.5.1 | 1.37.0-160000.5.1 |
busyboxUbuntu:Pro:14.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 1:1.20.0-8.1ubuntu11:1.20.0-9ubuntu11:1.20.0-9ubuntu21:1.21.0-1ubuntu11:1.21.0-1ubuntu1.41:1.21.0-1ubuntu1.4+esm1 |
None known |
busyboxUbuntu:Pro:16.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 1:1.22.0-15ubuntu11:1.22.0-15ubuntu1.41:1.22.0-15ubuntu1.4+esm11:1.22.0-15ubuntu1.4+esm2 |
None known |
busyboxUbuntu:Pro:18.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 1:1.22.0-19ubuntu21:1.27.2-1ubuntu31:1.27.2-1ubuntu41:1.27.2-2ubuntu21:1.27.2-2ubuntu3 Show 5 moreShow less1:1.27.2-2ubuntu3.11:1.27.2-2ubuntu3.21:1.27.2-2ubuntu3.31:1.27.2-2ubuntu3.41:1.27.2-2ubuntu3.4+esm1 |
None known |
busyboxUbuntu:20.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 1:1.30.1-4ubuntu41:1.30.1-4ubuntu51:1.30.1-4ubuntu61:1.30.1-4ubuntu6.11:1.30.1-4ubuntu6.21:1.30.1-4ubuntu6.31:1.30.1-4ubuntu6.41:1.30.1-4ubuntu6.5 |
None known |
busyboxUbuntu:22.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 1:1.30.1-6ubuntu31:1.30.1-7ubuntu11:1.30.1-7ubuntu21:1.30.1-7ubuntu31:1.30.1-7ubuntu3.1 |
None known |
busyboxUbuntu:24.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 1:1.36.1-3ubuntu11:1.36.1-6ubuntu11:1.36.1-6ubuntu31:1.36.1-6ubuntu3.1 |
None known |
busyboxUbuntu:25.10 |
All versions, plus listed versions 1:1.37.0-4ubuntu1 |
None known |
busyboxUbuntu:26.10 |
All versions, plus listed versions 1:1.37.0-7ubuntu11:1.37.0-10.1ubuntu21:1.37.0-10.1ubuntu31:1.38.0-3ubuntu11:1.38.0-3ubuntu31:1.38.0-3ubuntu4 |
None known |
busyboxUbuntu:26.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 1:1.37.0-4ubuntu11:1.37.0-7ubuntu1 |
None known |
busyboxopenSUSE:Tumbleweed |
before 1.37.0-10.1 | 1.37.0-10.1 |
busyboxopenSUSE:Leap 16.0 From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 1.37.0-160000.5.1 | 1.37.0-160000.5.1 |
Public exploits
Links only. Every CVE stores no exploit code.
| Source | Link | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Exploit-DB | BusyBox 1.37.0 - Path Traversal | 2026-04-30 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| affected | EUVD, NVD, OSV | |
| facts | CVE List | |
| first indexed | CVE List, EUVD, Exploit-DB, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2026-26157 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 7.0) in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6, published February 11, 2026. Public exploit code exists. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.73%, the 54th percentile. Fixed in busybox 1.35.0-18.
References
access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:13831
access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-26157
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2439039
git.busybox.net/busybox/commit/archival?id=3fb6b31c716669e12f75a2accd31bb7685b1a1cb
cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-253495.html
security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-26157.json
Show 35 moreShow less
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-26157
github.com/advisories/GHSA-xm63-5pjx-vrhp
docs.bell-sw.com/security/cves/CVE-2026-26157
security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2026-26157
openeuler.org/zh/security/security-bulletins/detail?id=openEuler-SA-2026-1544
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-26158
access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-26158
access.redhat.com/security/updates/classification
images.redhat.com
security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/advisories/2026/rhsa-2026_13831.json
cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-26157
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2439040
cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-26158
suse.com/support/update/announcement/2026/suse-su-20260758-1
bugzilla.suse.com/1258163
bugzilla.suse.com/1258167
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-26157
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-26158
suse.com/support/update/announcement/2026/suse-su-20260759-1
suse.com/support/update/announcement/2026/suse-su-20260872-1
bugzilla.suse.com/1192869
bugzilla.suse.com/1217580
bugzilla.suse.com/1217584
bugzilla.suse.com/1217585
bugzilla.suse.com/1241661
bugzilla.suse.com/1253245
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2021-42380
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2023-42363
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2023-42364
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2023-42365
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2025-46394
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2025-60876
suse.com/support/update/announcement/2026/suse-su-20260892-1
suse.com/support/update/announcement/2026/suse-su-202620905-1
ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-26157